Featured resources

2 lessons revising magazine articles for English Language GCSE focusing on the topic of boxing. Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main argument using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.

3 lessons suitable for KS3 or KS4. Lesson 1 focuses on the structure of narrative writing including a worksheet looking at examples of plans. Lessons 2 and 3 look at what makes an effective opening paragraph looking at 3 different examples- you could give pupils all 3 or give different ones to different groups. Pupils can then write their own opening paragraph based on success criteria.

This resource enables pupils to practice the skills needed for their GCSE English Language exams. It is really useful for GCSE pupils or even high ability year 9 pupils in order to develop how to approach each question type.

World Book Day Quiz 2018 with 5 different rounds celebrating children's literature through time.
Round 1- Picture round
Round 2-Fill in the gap of the title/author
Round 3-Nonsense language and find the literacy mistake
Round 4- Make the link between 3 words
Round 5- General knowledge
All rounds out of 9. Perfect to use with KS3 classes to celebrate World Book Day in English lessons or even form time! There is also a answer sheet for pupils to write down their answers.

3 lessons using the fight scene in act 1, scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet as a stimulus to write a formal letter- a letter of complaint to Prince Escalus from a civilian of Verona who is fed up of the violence caused by the Montagues and Capulets.
Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, use of senses activity and formal letter layout starter. There is also advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main arguments using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.

3 lessons revising speeches for English Language GCSE focusing on the topic of social media. Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, infograph activity and mix and match persuasive techniques starter. There is also advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main arguments using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.

A few tasks and activities linking to the Elizabethan era and William Shakespeare's life. Resources include a PowerPoint on Elizabethan life pupils can make notes on, a biography of William Shakespeare's life with comprehension questions (link to PowerPoint too), A 'what is the question activity' and a question loop game.

2 lessons revising magazine articles for English Language GCSE focusing on the topic of boxing. Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main argument using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.

Perfect for KS3 classes when learning about personification in poetry. Fun starter where pupils have to guess what objects have been personified. Pupils then explore the poem 'The Fog' and then create their own personification based on ice or snow. Could work for 1 or 2 lessons depending on ability of class.

A lesson exploring the poem 'The Sundial' by Gillian Clarke linking into the welsh poetry element of the WJEC English Literature GCSE. Lesson explores the vocabulary of the poem, what a sundial is and questions to explore the poem- pupils could work in groups to tackle these or used after a class discussion of the poem.

4 lessons focusing on a 'how' question exploring the topic of stereotyping teenagers. Lessons explore an article a Daily Mail article looking at the 'Feral Youths' of the gangs of Brixton London. Previously used for GCSE non-fiction controlled assessment I have now adapted up for the new GCSE style questions. These lessons look at a 5 mark question but it could be easily expanded to 10 marks and more time spent on it.

Two lessons exploring the poem 'Hard Frost' used with a high ability year 9 class- would also be suitable for GCSE pupils if adapted. The first lesson looks at the vocabulary and annotating the poem and the second looks at exploring quotations in detail- considering different meanings to help pupils reach level 6.

Two lessons for a Year 8 mixed ability class linking into the Globe Theatre. The first lesson looks at a video clip of the Globe Theatre and explores what makes a good piece of descriptive writing using two examples. The second lesson is planning and writing a piece of description writing.

Lesson observation standard lesson looking at nonsense language and how we can look at the sound of words and context to help us work out meaning. This links in well with the definition questions in the WJEC GCSE English Language exams. I have used this lesson with both mixed ability year 7 and year 8 and it worked really well. Starter activity has a literacy element to give pupils a extra focus. PowerPoint has examples of how to analyse language.
Lesson objectives:
To show an understanding of the poem ‘The Jabberwocky’ and refer to the poem when explaining your ideas- Level 4
To identify key ideas in the poem and select quotations to support your ideas - Level 5
To explore different layers of meanings in quotations and aspects of language in the poem (individual words)- Level 6
To be able to understand and express an overview of the poem when exploring quotations- Level 7

Two lessons focusing on the poem 'The Tom-Cat' by Don Marquis focusing on the skill of PEE. Suitable for any KS3 class. First lesson looks at difficult vocabulary and the content of the poem and the second lesson looks at picking out examples and explaining those examples.

Lesson used in lesson observation for WJEC GCSE English Language high ability class but could be used for other abilities. Lesson focuses on the topic of extreme sports looking at a 'How' type question and looks at 3 different responses of differing marks.

3 lessons suitable for KS3 or KS4. Lesson 1 focuses on the structure of narrative writing including a worksheet looking at examples of plans. Lessons 2 and 3 look at what makes an effective opening paragraph looking at 3 different examples- you could give pupils all 3 or give different ones to different groups. Pupils can then write their own opening paragraph based on success criteria.

Lesson worked really well with mixed ability year 8 class. Pupils work in groups of 4 taking on the role of a barrister or a character from 'Holes' to decide on whether Zero deserves to be punished for his assault of Mr Pendanski in chapter 30. Each character has a support sheet with an extract from 'Holes' to help them come up with reasons why. I chose the more able pupils to be the barrister so they could lead the group.

Lesson for year 9 mixed ability pupils exploring what a traditional sonnet is before looking at the sonnet between Romeo and Juliet in act 1, scene 5. Plenary explores what pupils have learnt through the lesson.